Page 125 of Nocere

"Always. But she was really good at her job so she got away with everything." Ainsley wagged her brows. "She said you're hot. I agree."

"Oh, come on." I tutted my tongue and she grinned. "Is there an abundance of lesbians around here?"

"It's law enforcement. Of course." She shrugged. "C'mon. Let's go watch the show."

"I'll say. You go watch then report your findings." I smirked as I lifted my glasses from the desk. "I'm staying here."

"Fine, drama pooper." Ainsley nudged my shoulder.

"Very funny." I waved her off and she headed out in a flood of snickers.

My phone chimed and I pulled it from my pocket to see a message from Sam. Before I even read it, I smiled. I tapped her message and her words filled my screen.

Stay with me tonight?

I'd like that.

I don't know when I'll be home, but I'd like you to be there.

My heart skipped a beat with a tangle of emotion over her honest request, and concern as to why she requested it. I will be.

She didn't say anything after that, so I pocketed my phone and headed out to break the news to Ainsley.

***

With a promise to hang out with Jordan and Ainsley over the weekend, I headed to Sam's apartment after stopping home for a shower and some clothes. I made it there by six, and spent some time rifling through her kitchen with the idea to fix something for dinner. Nothing met my fingertips except empty cupboards, and a minimalist refrigerator with mostly leftovers, some of which had questionable expiries. Normally, Sam had at least a few things, but tonight seemed unusual. When I gave myself a moment to settle, I glanced around the room and noted the untidy nature of things. The trash hadn't been taken down, dishes lingered in the sink, mainly coffee mugs, and blankets lay strewn across the sofa. This wasn't usual for Sam either. I tried not to think on it too much, because maybe she got called into work early.

While I thumbed through the takeout delivery apps, keys jingled in the hall and I looked up in time to see Stella appear in the doorway. Clad in her usual scrubs, her drawn expression brought a stroke of worry to my chest.

"Hi," I said, standing up to greet her. "I thought you were Sam."

"She's extra late tonight it seems then." Stella set her purse down on the table and I noticed that her hair hung down to her shoulders, and she looked way more put together than her usual post-work visits. "Hi. It's good to see you."

"You, too. Are you just going in to work now?"

She nodded. "In a bit. I was stopping by to check in with Sam." Her words, delicate and crisp, betrayed her stoic expression.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, no. Nothing's wrong," she said, her lips tightening to a thin line.

"Then why are you still standing with the door open and acting strangely?" My brow furrowed and the nerves in my chest melted down to swirl in my stomach. "You're making me nervous."

"I'm sorry, Rosie." She stepped inside and shut the door finally. "I don't mean to."

"I don't like when you and Sam have such a serious, calm expression, but your eyes are screaming. It's upsetting." I found myself blurting my feelings to Stella in a way I didn't expect.

"I'm sorry." She came to sit beside me. "I'm just a little worried."

"About what?" I set my phone down and turned to face her.

"About Sam." She glanced to the door then back to me. "She's okay. It's my worry."

My brow furrowed and my nervousness turned to anxiety in a heartbeat. "How come?"

"She doesn't want me to say anything." She drew in a deep breath. "Not even to Alice. I've never kept anything from her."

"Stella, I don't know you very well, but I'm really anxious about everything you're saying to me right now." I stopped myself from wringing my hands together.

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